Trade kitchen supplier Howdens has become a member of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Network, to strengthen its commitment to the circular economy, sustainability, and the environment.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s principles are to develop and promote a circular economy — one that addresses global challenges such as climate change, waste and pollution, and biodiversity loss, and delivers better outcomes for people and the environment.

The circular economy is based on three principle, all driven by design — eliminate waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems.

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Director of ESG at Howdens Rob Black says: “Joining the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is an important milestone in our ongoing work on sustainability.

“The Foundation is the leading organisation when it comes to championing a circular economy and a global thought leader on best practice in this area.

“Howdens will benefit greatly from the new membership as we look to bring circular economy principles and practices into our own work, along with potential collaborations with other members on raising issues and developing solutions to problems such as plastic waste and the use of materials that cannot be reused or recycled.

“Our ESG 2020 vision commitments include maintaining zero waste to landfill in manufacturing and distribution and achieving carbon neutral manufacturing by the end of 2021.

“The philosophy of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation should help us to achieve and go beyond our current vision.”

Founded in 1995, Howdens has over 750 depots nationwide and was awarded the Manufacturing Guild Mark from The Furniture Makers Company in 2020.